Pawlenty pays down nearly $60,000 in campaign debt

WASHINGTON — Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty paid off nearly $60,000 of his remaining presidential campaign debt in January, according to new Federal Election Commission filings.

Pawlenty’s campaign committee still owes $44,670 as of Jan. 31, down from $103,000 at the end of last year. He raised $40,370 in January, and had more than $21,000 on hand at the end of the month.

Pawlenty racked up more than $450,000 in debt during the course of his presidential campaign, which ended in August. He was able to pay down nearly $350,000 of that during the fall, thanks in part to Mitt Romney associates, who gave Pawlenty more than $66,000. Pawlenty endorsed Romney in October.